Chapter 10 - THE PHANTOM IN THE WINE CELLAR
Willa’s mind raced through her options in a fraction of a second. She couldn't push past Crowley; he outweighed her by fifty pounds and carried the estate security keys.
As the beam of Crowley’s heavy flashlight swept across the outer rows of wine racks, Willa slipped behind a massive oak aging vat in the furthest, darkest corner of the cellar, holding her breath and pressing her back flat against the damp stone wall.
“Hello?” Crowley’s voice echoed closer now, bouncing off the brick arches. “I know someone’s down here. The security sensor at the bottom landing tripped.”
Heavy footsteps crunched across the gravel-lined floor of the cellar, moving deliberately toward the back rows. The circle of light from Crowley’s flashlight swept frantically across the floor, drawing closer and closer to her hiding spot.
Willa closed her eyes, her hand tightening around the manila envelope inside her jacket. She prepared to bolt, ready to fight her way past him if she had to.
Then, suddenly, a sharp metallic crash echoed from the opposite end of the basement—near the laundry chute entrance.
“What the—?” Crowley muttered, pausing mid-step.
A second crash, louder this time, followed by the sound of glass shattering against the concrete floor.
“Hey! Who’s over there?!” Crowley shouted, abandoning his search of the back rows. He turned on his heel and sprinted toward the disturbance, his heavy footsteps pounding away into the distance.
Willa exhaled a shaky, silent breath. She didn't wait to find out what caused the distraction. Darting out from behind the vat, she slipped past the open safe, swung the wine rack back into place, and bolted up the stone staircase into the dark service hallway just as Crowley’s angry shouts echoed from the other side of the cellar.
Ten minutes later, she locked the door to Everett’s medical suite behind her, her chest heaving, the flash drive and contingency envelope safely hidden beneath her mattress.
She walked over to the bed, looking down at her sleeping husband.
May you like
“Did you do that?” she whispered, a faint, breathless smile touching her lips. “Was that you?”
On the pillow, Everett’s eyelids fluttered. A fraction of a millimeter. Just enough to let her know he was listening.
